South Hams

South Hams' population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in family life, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 83,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of South Hams increased by 1.6%, from just over 81,800 to 83,100.

The addition of almost 1,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Hams was home to, on average, 0.67 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Hams

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Hams increased by four years, from 44 to 48 years.

This agricultural area had the second-highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 16% of people in South Hams are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Hams by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

South Hams saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households in South Hams had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 7.5% to 8.5%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly saw a greater rise in the proportion of one-person households (from 27% to 34%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, South Hams went from having the 18th-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of one-person households out of 309 English local authority areas.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

South Hams saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just over one in six (17%) people aged 16 to 74 in South Hams said they were self-employed, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 46%.

Across the region, Mendip saw the next largest increase in the proportion of self-employed people (from 12% in 2001 to 14% in 2011).

During this period, South Hams overtook West Devon to become the South West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of self-employed people.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

South Hams saw the South West's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households in South Hams had at least one dependent child, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 66% to 68%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 24% to 20%) and Forest of Dean (from 30% to 26%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Hams

The number of people in South Hams that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 14,000 in 2001 to just over 23,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in South Hams that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 61,000 in 2001 to just over 51,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 6,300 to just over 7,400 (from 7.7% to 8.9%).

About 630 people (0.5%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 390 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in South Hams increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and South Hams by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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